Because I move homes so many times, there often are not a lot of ‘this is how we did it last year’ – insights for my annual holiday home makeover. So, I always plan and like to take photos in the process of it all. Because, as soon as I see a room in a photo, I know instantly what to do next! Funny how that works. Try it. Place your holiday items with attention to impact and prominence.

Photographer: Jez Timms

The best way to tackle the Holiday Home Makeover project is by starting with your dream or design vision. Make yourself some coffee, get a notebook and sketch it out. Start dreaming about things you’d like to happen during the holiday season, as well as for what you wish for to create visually. Start browsing online as well, and compile it all into a Pinterest board. This way, you get a total feel for what you want in your holiday home makeover this year.

A good holiday home makeover takes consideration and planning. First, pick which the best areas for your holiday displays. Best means: so they are seen and enjoyed, but also so that they are not tripped over and in the way of your daily living.

Then, prep! Don’t add your holiday decorations to your existing accessories. Editing is the name of the game. Start with your existing accessories; Take most of your existing decorative accessories out of sight. This way, the full limelight will be on your new holiday home decorations.

Next, select what you are going to show off and decide where. I kind of plan this, by walking through my house and making notes. Even though I plan, it always is an evolving feast.

Personally, I pick the location for my Christmas tree early, so that everything else is anchored by that. Put it in a location where you can actually see it from your sofa.
Some people swap room purposes in the holiday season. I only think this is necessary if you have guests and you need to transform your spare room into a fully fledged guest bedroom. Other than that, maybe a rearrangement of the furniture is necessary, but that should be enough.

Holiday home makeovers are as artistic and creative as you’d like them to be. However, my single most important tip is to not make things too busy. Edit out more than you think necessary. In your preparation phase, you placed your everyday accessories in boxes in the attic for the season. Then, keep a box down the stairs while you are doing the actual makeover. This is to put additionally edited items into.

This will allow you to be able to create beautiful seasonal spaces for your eyes to rest. For example, show off a single, beautiful Christmas decoration piece on its own, on the wall, or on a table.

Most people stop with home holiday makeovers after decorating their front door and living room. But, I like to work the theme throughout my whole home. An obvious next step it to transform the entrance hall and kitchen. For those with a real appetite for seasonal decoration, I’d opt to add a holiday splash to your bathrooms, and any other area of your home you wish.
Particularly children like to have some christmas decoration in their room. Give them what they want – provided it’s safe – so that they can celebrate the holiday cheer in their rooms also. Fairy lights and drawings of christmas trees go a long way.

How to Create Your Holiday Home Makeover

Getting started is easy. Here are room-by-room ideas for simple holiday décor exchanges for everyday accessories around the house:

1. Front door & Porch: Place a few poinsettias along the side of the door in the porch, and feature a lovely seasonal wreath to the front door.
2. Entrance & Hallway: substitute your everyday mats with some seasonal rugs and mats. You may go for warmer tones
3. Livingroom: Add seasonality to your candle / candleholders.
4. Livingroom: Summer holiday photos can be replaced with family holiday pictures from the years past.
5. Livingroom: Add a few festive decorative throw pillows.
6. Livingroom: Change your tabletop books to ones of a winter or holiday theme.
7. Livingroom: Simply add festive seasonal branches, plants and shrubs. My favorites are poinsettia and olive branches. But also consider ivy, mistletoe, and holly. Migrate existing houseplants to areas that are not used as much.
8. Kitchen: I love to add a holiday coffee station and create a card writing nook. It’s also where I make all my labels and recipe cards for any giveaway homemade goodies I make in the kitchen.
9. Dining room: Table linens and dishware.
10. Bathroom: Guest toiletries and seasonal hand towels.
11. These are only a few, feel free to keep going.

Successful holiday decorating is festive and comfortable. You want people to feel happy and excited when they arrive at your home over the holidays. While the basic principles of regular home decorating apply, you now want to create more of a splash.